Overview

• Archived snapshots show the sections were intact on July 17 but missing by August 6, when users first identified the omissions from the Constitution Annotated site.
• The vanished text included parts of Section 8 and all of Sections 9 and 10, covering habeas corpus protections, bans on titles of nobility and foreign emoluments, and limits on state powers.
• Library of Congress officials posted on X that a coding error caused the deletions and placed a banner on the site warning visitors of data issues.
• The complete, unaltered Constitution remained available on the National Archives website throughout the incident.
• Lawmakers and legal experts say the episode highlights the importance of rigorous oversight for public legal resources and the distinction between digital displays and the Constitution’s unchangeable legal authority.